Wicked cast changes from 11 May 2009

Wicked cast changes from 11 May 2009

There are cast changes in WICKED from 11 May 2009 including Sam Kelly as The Wizard, Natalie Anderson as Nessarose, Alexia Khadime returns as Elphaba.

Current ensemble cast members Alex Jessop and David Stoller will take over the roles of 'Boq' and 'Doctor Dillamond' respectively.

Remaining with the show is Dianne Pilkington (Glinda), Oliver Tompsett (Fiyero), Harriet Thorpe (Madame Morrible), Ashleigh Gray (Standby for Elphaba) and Sarah Earnshaw (Standby for Glinda).

Playing their final performances on Saturday 9th May 2009 are: Kerry Ellis (Elphaba), Desmond Barrit (The Wizard), Caroline Keiff (Nessarose), Jeremy Legat (Boq) and Andy Mace (Doctor Dillamond).

Sam Kelly's recent London stage credits include "Female of the Species" at the Vaudeville in 2008; "Kean" at the Apollo in 2007; "Dick Whittington and His Cat" at the Barbican in 2006; "Aladdin" at the Old Vic in 2004; "A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum" at the Olivier, NT in 2004. TV credits include "Porridge"; "Allo, 'Allo"; "On The Up" . Natalie Anderson is best known as 'Nurse Stella Davenport' in ITV's The Royal, a role she has been playing since 2004. She also starred in the BBC children's television drama series The Biz with Paul Nicholls.

WICKED opened at the Apollo Victoria Theatre 27 Sep 2006, following previews from 7 Sep - to reasonable notices from the popular press: THE EVENING STANDARD says, "Remarkable kaleidoscope of magical shocks, surprises and sensations. Wicked works like a dream."THE INDEPENDENT says, "I enjoyed very little. " THE GUARDIAN says, "Efficient, knowing and highly professional but more like a piece of industrial product than something that genuinely touches the heart or mind." THE DAILY TELEGRAPH says, "Witty, enjoyable" THE TIMES says, "Songs bang out, along with iffy lyrics and not-so-witty dialogue."

Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire, WICKED has music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, book by Winnie Holzman.

It is directed by Joe Mantello, scenic design by Eugene Lee, costumes by Susan Hilferty, lighting by Kenneth Posner, sound by Tony Meola, orchestrations by William David Brohn, musical staging by Wayne Cilento and is directed by Joe Mantello.

Two girls meet in the land of Oz. One, born with emerald-green skin, is smart, feisty and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very, very popular. WICKED is the story of these two unlikely friends and how they end up as the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch.

WICKED is currently taking bookings to 3 April 2010.